Seasons come and seasons go. The turn of the seasons inevitably marked the passing of years and the passing of childhood into adolescence and finally into adulthood. The mare sighed as she gave her shoulders a mighty shrug. The fur shawl that provided her a modicum of warmth during the winter was a nuisance over the summer.
Damara's Tempest had known no other life outside of the valley that she called home since birth. She had been born here and it was assumed that it would be the place in which she died as well. Her giant tusks glinted in the sunlight that graced the land. The day had been rather routine in the sense that she had woken up and tended to her rituals before beginning to graze. If only she had known that the day would not end like all the others. Her life was about to have a giant wrench thrown into the works. Perhaps if she had been more attuned to the mood of the ground below her hooves she might have sensed that something was amiss. However, like many other denizens of the valley, she had become accustomed to the almost daily shaking of the earth. The shaking had become more and more routine and Damara knew that if she did not run around in a panic that sooner than later everything would settle down once more.
The day was turning towards the peak of the afternoon when once again Damara felt the beginning vibrations travel up her legs. Steadying her body against a tree the mare began to repeat a mantra to herself when the realization came that this event was different. It was stronger. Way stronger. Damara could see others coming to the same conclusion and yet she did could not move from her place. Seeking shelter now would be too dangerous and even if she did the caves around the valley could be compromised. Her legs buckled as a sharp jolt to the ground beneath her caused her to stumble. Her body crashed to the earth as the shaking continued to intensify in strength. Just how much longer was the sensation going to last? Damara didn't see the branch that struck her skull. But the result was apparently. The mare's body slumped into a pose of unconsciousness as the land continued to rage around her.
Giant cracks formed in the land and spurs of rock shot upwards towards the sky while other sections of the valley fell into gaping holes. The pristine valley would be forever scarred. The seismic event would forever change the lives of those that the valley had once sheltered. Those that were not killed now were left with a choice: remain or leave. The valley was no longer the same place that had nurtured the residents. Food sources had been lost and many were too shaken to stay behind. The only safe option it seemed was to leave.
Damara had woken to find her little spot of paradise destroyed. Lamenting her loss would take more energy than she was willing to spare. With her vision slightly impaired and an almost continuous ache in her head the mare set out alone at night to leave the valley she had called home for all of her life.
